Collapsible camping trailer



H. B. SCHULTZ COLLAPSIBLE CAMPING TRAILER May 27, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 18, 1954 INVENTOR. #Ae 5. 5cm/A TZ Arme/Vex May 27, 1958 H. B. scHULTz 2,836,456

GOLLAPSIBLE CAMPING TRAILERy Filed March 18, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 i INVENTOR. #428@ 5? 5b/7m TZ.

United States harem @ffice .2,836,456 Patented May 27, 1958 coLLAPsrLE CAMPING TRAILER Harold B. Schultz, south Bend, rnd.

Application March 18, 1954, Serial No. 417,051

9 Claims. (Cl. 296-23) This invention relates to improvements in collapsible camping trailers.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a collapsible camping trailer which is sturdy when erected, which collapses to small compass, which is substantially weather-tight and waterproof, which can be erected quickly by one individual, and which is completely protected against the weather when in its collapsed condition.

A further object is to provide a collapsible trailer which has a substantial storage space therein when collapsed so that items of furniture may be positioned within the trailer and may remain in the same position when collapsed as when the trailer is erected and the items are in use.

Other objects will be apparent from the following specification.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a side View of the trailer in erected position;

Fig. 2 is a rear view of the trailer in erected position;

Fig. 3 is a substantially schematic transverse sectional view illustrating the trailer in collapsed position;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse sectional view taken on line 4 4 of Fig. l;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional View similar to Fig. 4 but illustrating the side panels in erected position;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional View taken online 6-6 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional View illustrating the relation of the top to an end unit in the collapsed position of the device;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary detail sectional View taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 1 and illustrating the parts in collapsed position; and

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional View taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 4.

Referring to the drawings which illustrate the preferred embodiment of the invention= the numeral li) designates the frame of a trailer which preferably includes a plurality of longitudinal frame members l2, such as channels, which are xedly connected by cross-members and from which projects at one end a tongue i4 which mounts a trailer hitch lo at its outer end. The trailer frame is supported by wheels mounted upon a suitable axle (not shown) which supports the frame preferably through the intermediary or' springs (not shown).

A lower or fixed body portion is supported upon the frame 10 and preferably includes a bottom or oor member 2l), longitudinal side walls 22, and end walls Z4. The upper margins or" the side and end walls 22 and 24 preferably terminate in a common plane and are reinforced. inverted channel members 26 are illustrated as being secured along the uppermargins of the side panels 22 and extending into the body of the trailer. Inverted channel members 28, preferably of a greater width than the channels 26, are secured to the end walls 24 at the upper margin thereof and extend inwardly therefrom, The reinforcing members Z6 and 23 will be secured to each other, as are the wall panels 22 and 24, thus providing a rigid box-like construction. Side panels 22 may be interrupted by a door opening 39. The side panels serve additionally to mount longitudinal brackets or supports 32 at their opposite ends, which brackets are here shown as angle irons projecting laterally outwardly from the walls on which they are mounted and spaced below the top edges of the panels 22.

Two side walls 34 are provided, one at each side of the trailer, and each of a length shorter than the length of the side panel 22 of the lower portion of the trailer. Each side wall will preferably be provided with a marginal reinforcing frame which may be formed of angle irons 36, as illustrated. The angle irons 36 at the lowermost portion of each wall is preferably positioned spaced above the bottom edge of that wall so that a portionf38 of each side wall or panel projects below said lowermost reinforcinU member 36. An elongated hinge 40, preferably ot' the piano-hinge type to extend substantially full length of the wall 34, has one hinge leaf thereof secured to the lowermost reinforcing frange 36 of the side wall, and the other hinge leali` thereof is secured to the top surface of the reinforcing member 26 of the understructure. The hinge will preferably be so arranged that the pivot axis thereof will be located adjacent the inner margin of the members 26 and 36 and spaced from the plane of the side wall 34 when the latter is erected, as illustrated in Fig. 5. in this arrangement of the parts, the projecting parts 33 of the side walls will extend below the level of the top or' the side panels 22 of the lower structure. Furthermore, the hinge will be so oriented that each side panel 34 will be positioned in a plane parallel to and preferably in contact with the upper margin of the side panel 22 when member 34 is erected. A gasket strip 42 will preferably extend along the top of the member 26 and may be formed of felt, rubber or other material, to provide an elfes-tive seal against the entry of moisture, dirt and wind through the joint between the side wall 34 and the panel 22.

At least one of the panels 34 will preferably be interrupted by the upper margin 31 of a door opening registering with the door opening portion 30 in the lower panel 22. A door 44 is adapted to close the door opening 30, 3l and may either be of one piece or of two pieces. Where made of one piece, the door must be removed to accommodate collapse of the trailer. Where made of two pieces, means must be provided to hinge each of the sections to the adjacent panel and, if desired, means may be provided to connect the upper and lower panels of the door, although this is not essential or required and a Dutch door effect may be employed instead.

An end unit is mounted at each end of the lower portion of the trailer body. Each end unit preferably includes an end wall 46 and side wing panels 48. The panels 4S are spaced apart a distance slightly greater than the spacing between the outer surfaces of the side walls 34 when'the latter are erected, and are of a width to partially overlap the end margins of the side walls at 50 as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 6. Each end unit is provided with a reinforcing frame structure consisting of angle irons or other reinforcing members 52. A member 54 extends in a longitudinal substantially horizontal position, as illustrated in Fig. 6, when the end unit is erected, and may either span the wing panels 48 or may consti; tute an angle iron as illustrated in Fig. 8. This member is located above the bottom of the end unit so that the lower marginal portions 56 of both panels 46 and 48 of the end unit project therebelow. The member 54 has attached thereto one leaf 57 of a hinge 58 whose opposite leaf 6i? is secured to the frame member 28 at the end of the lower portion of the trailer body. Thehinge pintle 53 is preferably located adjacent the inner margin of the member ZS and adjacent the inneror free margins of the side wing panels 48, as best shown in Fig. 6. A combination cushioning and sealing strip 62 extends lengthwisefof each member 2S adjacent the outer margin thereof and is borne upon Y therein.

continuously by the .part 54 or some other part of the end unit to provide a seal against Y dust, wind and weather. Asbest seen in Figs, 4 and 6,

the lower margins 56 ofthe end panels 46- and their side Y wingL panels 48Y project belowYthe level ofthe top of. the member'2S,`--and the parts are preferably so arranged. that the end wall Y46 will lie adjacent to the end panel 24 of the lower structurejwhen the unit is erected as illus- Y trated in Fig. 6, and the side wings` 48 will`lie close to side panels 34, as illustrated in Fig. 5. The sealing strip '42 `may extend Ylengthwise' along each side panel 22 of the ylower structure and beyond theYends of the hinge 4i) Yto seal Vthe structure at the end wing panels 48. Y Y

of the top panel are downturned at 70. The roof unit` will preferably be reinforced, as by angle irons 72 at the junction of the panels 64 and 68, and by a marginal reinforcing member74 and by cross-beams (not shown). The member 74 may be of any cross-sectional configuration found suitable, and as here shown takes substantially the form of a Ychannelhaving aange 76'eXtending1par-- tially across theropen mouth thereof so as to define ,narrow or reduced dimension guide passage 78 lengthwise Y 'margins of the side panels 68 of the top unit and extend from theA opposite en ds of the unit adistance substantially Vequal tothe-vertical dimension of the end uni'tsi46, 48.

At their'inrnerV ends the members 74 are preferablyupturned to provide terminal guide passages 8G, as bestY illustratedin Fig. `7. Additional marginal bracing means 82 lmay be provided at `the lower margin of the side i panels 63 between the upturned portions 74of adjacent guide channels. Y

Each of the reinforcing members 52 at theupper ends Y ofthe opposite side wings 4S of the'end units mountsV a carrier 84 for a guide member 86, such as a roller, adapted to extend into the guide passage 7Sifor guided movement As best illustrated in Fig 4, the carrier 84 may constitute a U-shaped member whose opposite legs are spaced transversely of the trailer, and the roller 86 may be an elongated cylindrical bar or rod journaled in apertures in the bracket legs 84 and projecting outwardly andlaterally to enter the groove 78. yIt will be u nderstood that each end .unitwill .mount twocarriers located atYopposite sides of the upper end thereof.

The partsv are so proportioned and arranged dimensionilessthan the width of the trailer, so they may c fold inwardly into partially overlapping relation asA shown in YEi`g. Y-'Y3;` Yand will VlieYentirelyA-withirirthe overall" outline yof theftrrailerfbody. 1 YTheend panels are preferably of `a heightless than one-halfof the length of the trailer body,k

so that they may be foldedin aV longitudinal direction aboutY axes-transverse of the Vtrailer body toY positionsVY overlying Ythepanels 34.Y The inward movement of the endgpanels Ycauses the rollers` 86 tortraverse 'theY frameY guides'78 of the top unit, Ythereby automatically lower- Ying'thetop as theYend panels swing. -The top'unit 64 traileLjfI'he assumption of this position is accommodated bypthe'bent portion 8) of the roller guide4 '747 as seenYin'Fig.j7, which permits theYrollers toV move out of Y. the longitudinal track at the lowermargin ofthe topV unit to a position adjacent t'o the top panel 66, as seen in Figs.

:'7 and 8. YEach of the side Ypanels 34 can be lowered veasily without disturbing either of Ythe end panel units, and thereafter the end panel units can be Vlowered successively,

v r that they Y' "assume'theYpositiouYillustrated in Fig. 3 when collapsed. VThus theY two panels 34 will; preferably be of a vertical thereof; Y The passages 73 are provided along VVthe lower since the top unit 64 is free to YtoYYaccommodate lowering of lirst one endV and then the assume Va tilted position` otherA end thereof. Y e I `The erection of the trailer from the Fig. 3 position to the Fig. 1 position is accomplished by aV reverse pro-Y Thus the top unit 64 is raised at one endY there- Y Y cedure. of with the rollers '86"on' the adjacent,r end panel following the curyed guide 80, and thence traversing the longitudinal guides 78 until the end panel has been erected or substantially erect. Y A clip 88 may then be secured to the guide 74 and to the Yreinforcement 52 at an end wing 48, as shown inYFig.` 6, to prevent relative movement of the' end unitYand the top unit. Thereupon the opposite end. of thetop lunit can be elevated withincident raising Yof the lopposite end wall unit. Eachfend Ywall unit will preferably be provided with-meanstoprevent Y Y swinging' thereof outwardly past upright'po'sition, and Y such means may constitntea cable 90,'as seenin'Fig'. 6, or a chain or'folding brace. If only one individualfis available, the operation can be accomplished manuallyYV by him, although it will be understood that the` operation is facilitated if two people can cooperate in performing it.

After the opposite endwall units have been erected, the

side wall panelsV 34 can lne-swung to erect positiomand suitable means, such as ythe latch 90-shown in l"ig.1 6,V may b'eprovided tohold the side walls 34 in elevated position,` Y the means 90 Ybeing here shown,Y as being carried by'the Y upper ends of the end wing units.48. Also, hooltlme'mbers 92, shown in Fig. 9, may be' pivoted to theYs'ide walls 34 at 94 to engage flanges 76 of reinforcing ,members 74 of the top. Also, if desired, Vsealing gasketsl (not shown) may be interposed between the parts 34and48 at the overlap 50 therebetween. f

The panels V22 and 24j of the lower part of the trailer 'Y body preferably extend above the trailer oor 20 la dis- Y tance lsuiicient to accommodate permanentV installation Y Y of beds, chests, stools and-other items of furniture pwithinthe trailer, all positionedat a level below the position which the side walls 34 assume when collapsed, asYillustrated in Fig. 3. Y be employed as the supports to position the inner ends of the side walls 34, although, Yalternatively,.other means,V

such AasYprops (notshown), maybe employed for Vthis purpose. Consequently, only a minimum amount of manipulation Vand adjustment of the. interior parts Vor -V furnishings ofthe trailer isyrequired toV accommodate'.Y collapse thereof after use -has ended and preparatory Y to transport. VThis factor reduces to a minimum the verj tical dimension ofthe side and end walls 34 and 46 yso Y' that their weight is Yheld at a minimum to Ybefconveniently manipulated and to accommodate their construction from light weight components. Also, if desired,

folding bunks Y(not shown) maybe mounted on the side Walls 34, 'or endwalls 48. The various parts of the trailerYbody may beV formed from any material found A suitable, such as sheet.4 metal'panels, plywood panels,

hard board composition panels, or glass reinforced plastic 'Y Y panels.

Y The top unit 64 maybe formed from any of these materials.

In the collapsed position ofthe parts-shown in Fig."3, Y

only the roof unit 64 and the lower permanent body v'unit 22,. 24 is visible, andthe roof unit serves asa cap to embrace and concealthe folded side Vandend Walls.

Y The trailer body has-'a very low center Yof gravity in its collapsed condition' and, therefore, can be towed leasily without great wind `resistance and without obstructing The the rear vision of the driver of the towing vehicle. capping of the trailer body anditslcontents by the lowered top unit 64 insuresy against entry of dirt 'and moisture itno the collapsed Vtrailer body. FurthermoreQthe-,support of the margins of the top unit 64 upontheanges 32 eliminates any possibility ofinjuryV to the'collapsedY panels 34 and 46,Y as might occur if the weight of the top unit 64 were applied directlyV thereon.,Y

The trailer body is substantially windand weather SuchV items f of furniture. may, infact,

tight when erected, as will be seen by the overlapping relation of the lower marginal portions of the vertical panels 34 and 46 relative to the walls 22, 24 of the lower fixed portion of the trailer body. Likewise, a lapped relation exists between the lower margin of the walls 68 and 76 of the trailer top 64 with respect to the upper margins of the vertical panels 34 and 46. The anchorage of the top to the end walls through the intermediary of the rollers 86 and the track members 74 holds the trailer body erect so that it will resist Wind pressure. Also, camming wedges 96 may be mounted on the end wing panels 4? to engage the ends of the side walls 34 and prevent relative movement of said parts in a direction lengthwise of the trailer. Suicient overlap between the side wing panels 48 and the side panels 34 may likewise be provided, together with the use of gasket strips if desired, to seal the joints of the trailer body at these points. Thus the trailer will provide effective shelter to campers and travelers even in inclement weather.

The formation of the end wall units with short sections of side wings integral therewith and the hinged connection of those end wall units adjacent the free or inner ends of the wings accommodates a folding relation of the parts in which the end wall units are clear of the side wall units, that is, in which the end wall units lie, in their collapsed position, in a plane spaced above the top of the permanent walls 22, 24 of the trailer a distance equal to the width of the end wings thereof and sucient to receive the infolded side walls therebelow. In addition, this construction of the end units strengthens the entire trailer body and the end units themselves and renders the entire structure sturdy and stable when erected.

While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it will be understood that changes in the construction may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

l. A collapsible trailer comprising a wheeled vehicle having a rigid open-topped boxalike body including iXedly connected side and end panels, each panel having an inwardly projecting ledge at its upper end, said ledges lying in a common horizontal plane, a pair of rigid end wall units, a pair of rigid side wall units, one pair of wall units having vertical end wings projecting therefrom and lapping the other wall units when erected means pivotally connecting each wall unit to said body at said ledge spaced above the lower edge of the wall unit and adjacent the inner edges of said ledges, said pivot axes lying in a common horizontal plane but spaced differently relative to said body panels, whereby said wall units lap the upper portion of said body when erected and lie spaced above the ledges and some panels lie at different levels than others when swung to collapsed substantially horizontal position, a rigid top having depending marginal walls, lapping the upper margins of said pivoted Wall units when erected and iitting therearound when said pivoted wall units are collapsed and a shiftable connection between said top and two of said wall units accommodating conjoint shifting of said top and connected wall units.

2. A collapsible trailer as dened in claim l, and gasket strips extending longitudinally on said ledges and engageable by said wall units when erected, whereby the joint between each wall unit and the body is sealed.

3. A collapsible trailer as dened in claim 1, wherein wedges are carried by said wings and engaged by said side walls when erected to rigidity said trailer.

4. A collapsible trailer comprising a wheeled vehicle having a body including iixedly connected bottom, side and end panels, rigid side walls pivoted to the upper portions of said side panels and adapted to swing inwardly to superimposed substantially horizontal position,

rigid end walls pivoted to the upper portions of said end panels to swing inwardly and overlie said side walls, a. rigid roof unit, and slnftable means connecting said roof panel and end walls whereby said end walls are moved from collapsed to erected position as said roof is raised,

said connecting means constituting a longitudinal guide on Y the lower portion of a side of tue roof unit and a roller projecting above and laterally from each pivoted end wall and seating in said guide, said guide having an upturned inner portion accommodating lowering of said roof unit to surround said end wall when collapsed.

5. A collapsible trailer comprising a wheeled vehicle having a body including fixedly connected bottom, side and end panels, rigid side walls pivoted to the upper portions of said side panels and adapted to swing inwardly to superimposed substantially horizontal position, rigid end walls pivoted to the upper portions of said end panels to swing inwardly and overlie said side walls, a rigid unitary roof unit having rigid depending side and end portions adapted to lit around and enclose said ivoted side and end walls when collapsed and the upper part or" said rixed side and end body panels, a pair of opposed pivoted walls having xedly connected thereto inwardly projecting vertical marginal parts positioned in lapped relation to adjacent pivoted walls when erected, said marginal parts carrying pivots spaced from the associated walls to position said associated walls spaced above said adjacent walls when in collapsed position, each pivoted wall overlapping the upper marginal part of the adjacent rxed body panel when erected, said pivotcd side and end walls abutting the depending side and end portions of said roof unit when erected, and shittable means connecting said roof panel and end walls whereby said end walls are moved from collapsed to erected position as said roof is raised.

6. A collapsible trailer as dehned in claim 5, wherein said angularly projecting vertical marginal parts constitute longitudinally extending side wings mounted on said end walls.

7. A collapsible trailer as dened in claim 5, wherein said side walls terminate spaced from the ends of said body and said end walls include longitudinal wing portions lapping the ends of said side walls when erected.

8. A collapsible trailer as defined in claim 5 wherein each of said pivoted walls includes a horizontal inwardly projecting part spaced above its bottom edge, said walls being pivoted at the inner edges of said projecting parts in the same plane.

9. A collapsible trailer as dened in claim 5, wherein each wall is pivoted to said body in inwardly spaced relation to its plane and above its bottom edge, the pivot aires of all walls being located in a common horizontal p ane.

References Cited in the ile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,998,937 McGinnis Apr. 23, 1935 2,066,342 Gorton Jan. 5, 1937 2,147,892 Gray Feb. 2l, 1939 2,155,876 Stout Apr. 25, 1939 2,182,967 Kors Dec. 12, 1939 2,298,619 Gorton Oct, 13, 1942 2,395,691 Smith Feb. 26, 1946 2,725,602 Francis Dec. 6, 1955 FOREIGN l ATENTS 20,208 Australia Nov. 16, 1934 324,667 Great Britain Ian. 3l, 1930 OTHER REFERENCES Article, How To Make Trailer Coupling and Other Parts, from Autobody Trimmer and Painter magazine, page 2f), August 193 

